Rating: NR
Length: 96 minutes

Standard 1.33:1 B&W

SWEDISH: Dolby Digital Mono

English

A knight and his squire return to Sweden after spending ten years fighting the Crusades in the Holy Land. While recovering on a beach, Death approaches the knight because it's his turn to die. The knight challenges Death to a game of chess; if he wins he lives, otherwise he dies. He knows this will give him time to find answers he needs about life and God while his country is besieged by the Black Plague.

This is a really intriguing look at one man's search for the truth. The picture is stunning though I had to question the subtitles from time-to-time. I do not understand a word of Swedish, but they seemed to say a lot more on the screen that was being translated in English in the subtitles. And even though this film is about death and has some fairly horrific scenes, you are also provided some sharp wit and cynicism by the knight's squire that will put a smile on your face.

For those of you that hate subtitles, I hope you're fluent in Swedish. If you purchased this film as part of the "Igmar Bergman 4-Movie Collection", like I did, there is a good chance that none of the extras listed above are on your disc. Apparently something went wrong, they didn't tell me what. But, if you email Criterion they will give you the simple instructions to send in your bad disc and they will send back a good one. Good for Criterion!

• Audio commentary by noted film historian Peter Cowie
• An annotated, illustrated Bergman filmography, featuring excerpts from Wild Strawberries and The Magician with commentary
• Improved English subtitles
• Optional English-dubbed soundtrack
• Original theatrical trailer with optional English subtitles
• Restoration demonstration
• Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

The movie is stunningly beautiful and thought provoking. This isn't a film you would want to put in if you're looking for brainless fun. Warning, it did take two viewings for me to truly appreciate the film; the first viewing left me somewhat confused.

Ingmar Bergman   [Smiles of a Summer Night, The Virgin Spring, Wild Strawberries]

Bertil Anderberg - Raval

Bibi Andersson - Mia, Jof's wife

[Smiles of a Summer Night, Wild Strawberries]

Gunnar Björnstrand - Jöns, squire

[Smiles of a Summer Night, Wild Strawberries]

Anders Ek - The Monk

Bengt Ekerot - Death

Åke Fridell - Blacksmith Plog

[Smiles of a Summer Night, Wild Strawberries]

Inga Gill - Lisa, blacksmith's wife

Maud Hansson - Witch

Inga Landgré - Karin, Block's Wife

Gunnel Lindblom - Girl

[The Virgin Spring]

Nils Poppe - Jof

Gunnar Olsson - Albertus Pictor, Church Painter

Erik Strandmark - Jonas Skat

Max von Sydow - Antonius Block

[3 Days of the Condor, Conan the Barbarian, The Druids, Flash Godon, Minority Report, Needful Things]